By Matty Maslen, Newsletter editorPeaceJam is an international organisation led by 14 Nobel Peace Laureates working to support a generation of future Nobel Peace Laureates. Their vision is “To Make Peace a Verb”.So far, over 1.3 million young people in more than 40 countries have taken part in the PeaceJam programme.On the 11th of November […]
Social Action
taking actions on issues of social justice
20 Jun – Refugee Week events across the Leeds Diocese
By Matthew Maslen, J&P Newsletter editorThis week (19th – 25th June), is Refugee Week. This year, the 25th Anniversary of Refugee Week, the theme is Compassion.The organisers, Refugee Week UK, “invite you to celebrate what compassion looks like in action”. They call on us to draw on our experiences to help us to be compassionate […]
15 Jul – Beard Protest
Ever feel like doing a bake sale or a sponsored run is a bit old hat? Well, no need to despair! Tim Devereaux’s recent beard protest has lifted the vale on whacky ways to raise money for charity!Since March 2020, Tim Devereux has been growing his beard in protest against PM Johnson. He pledged to […]
10 Jan – Work opportunity with St Monica’s Housing
An opportunity has arisen to work with St Monica’s Housing, a small Leeds charity which currently runs two homes housing single female asylum seekers who don’t have access to public funds.The successful candidate would provide practical support for up to 10 residents in two houses and ensure the general maintenance of the houses in conjunction […]
17 Apr ‘A Politics Rooted in the People’ Conference Report
By Joe Burns, Commission MemberThis online international conference, on 15 April, was organised principally by the Centre for Theology and Community, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Katholische Hochschule für Sozialwesen in Germany. However, there was a strong presence and input from people with a community organising background (so, people active in Citizens […]
12 Jul – Caritas Leeds:Criminal Justice Inquiry
Caritas Leeds, an umbrella organisation to bring together existing charitable and social action groups across the Diocese of Leeds, was launched in September 2017 www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/caritas/ Marking the ‘Third International Day of the Poor’ in November 2018, an open meeting was held and invited to consider issues relating to people living with disabilities, homelessness, families and […]
02 May – Caritas launches Covid-19 resource toolkit for parishes
Last week CSAN and the national SVP launched a useful toolkit for parishes to coordinate support during this pandemic. Click the Download button to obtain a copy.Download Now
15 Apr – SPARK Social Justice goes Virtual
It was only last month that we were reporting on the 300 or so young people who have attended SPARK workshops in the last few months – using drama to explore issues of social justice such as UK poverty and the devastating impact that it can have on people’s lives.With the lockdown, of course, all […]
06 Feb – Fixed term job opp with Caritas Leeds
The Diocese of Leeds is seeking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic researcher with a passion for social justice. Your main task will be working with volunteers to develop outcomes from an exciting action research project: the Caritas Leeds Criminal Justice Inquiry. This is a fixed term contract of two-days a week (April-September 2020). Closing […]
23 Jan – St Monica’s Housing needs a Treasurer
St Monica’s Housing Ltd. is a small charity providing accommodation for failed women asylum seekers. It is based in Leeds and is working to extend to other parts of the Diocese. Members of the Commission were instrumental in helping to set this charity up and continue to be involved. We quite regularly provide updates about […]
02 Dec – Great Progress at St Monica’s Housing
This update was provided by John McLaughlin, a member of the St.Monica’s Housing Management Committee and a member of the J&P CommissionSt. Monica’s Housing was founded in 2010 by a member of the Justice and Peace Commission and a member of the SVP. Since then many women who are made deliberately destitute when their first […]
28 Nov – Settle Re-SETTLEment update
Paul Kelly, parishioner at Ss Mary & Michael, Settle, and project lead for the Refugee ReSETTLEment Community sponsorship Group, sends this update. Twenty months since a parish meeting agreed to start the community-wide project to welcome and provide for a family displaced by the Syrian conflict, 5 months since the Home Office approved our intensive […]
07 Jul – Student in Leeds Diocese obtains Million Minutes Award
The official list for the Celebrating Young People Awards 2019 was announced in London’s West End on the 3 July. Nominations were gathered from schools, parishes and organisations across England and Wales. The awards – now in their fourth year – are powered by the Million Minutes Organisation and honour the achievements of those young […]
14 Jun – Jean Vanier remembered
By Marjorie Parker Jean Vanier died peacefully on 7th May. At his requiem Mass, Marie-Helene, his long time friend and co-founder of Faith and Light reminded us that “to die is not a lamp going out but a new light lighting up, Jean has given us a new light” What is the light that Jean […]
12 Feb – Helping Asylum Seekers & Refugees in 2019
On Tuesday 12 February the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes & St William’s (Parish of St. Blaise), Ingleby Road, Bradford, hosted another very successful meeting for the Diocesan Refugee Support Group. The spacious parish hall was packed with nearly 100 people and at least 15 organisations that support refugees and asylum seekers in and […]
09 Oct – Caritas Leeds Looks to the Year Ahead
Caritas Leeds, which calls together all those in the Diocese in our organisations , groups and parishioners involved in charitable activities and social action, held an annual Diocesan reflection day on the first Saturday in October. Opened by Bishop Marcus, it was launched with an introductory reflection on Pope Francis’s latest Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete […]